Blinn hands Bulldogs 2nd SWJCFC loss, 27-12

BRENHAM — Carlos Grace rushed for 178 yards on 28 carries and scored twice as the Blinn Buccaneers defeated 10th-ranked Navarro, 27-12, in a Southwest Junior College Football Conference game Saturday at Cub Stadium.

Coach Ryan Mahon’s Buccaneers improved to 2-0 overall and in conference play, while coach Cody Crill’s Bulldogs suffered their second straight loss and fell to 1-2 overall, 0-2 in league play.

The Bulldogs took a 6-0 lead with linebacker Yohance Burnett recovered a fumble and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown three minutes into the game.

Grace plunged in from one yards for the tying touchdown at 5:42 of the first period and Ryan Buckley’s conversion kick gave the Buccaneers a lead they never would relinquish. Blinn’s first touchdown was set up by Williams’ 32-yard pass to Quinton Newton.

Buckley and Navarro’s Benigno Heredia swapped a pair of field goals. Buckley hit from 22 and 33 yards; Heredia, from 21 and 26.

NC had several scoring opportunities denied. One Bulldog drive stopped at the Blinn 3. NC blocked a Buccaneer punt and took over at the Blinn 11, but on the first play, Dominique Harrison intercepted a pass in the end zone intended for Warren Flye.

Deandre Cook led Navarro rushers with 101 yards on 18 carries. Quarterback Harry Woodberry was 21 of 37 for 201 yards and was intercepted twice. Receiver Matt Reyna led Navarro with six catches for 63 yards.

The Bulldogs will not play Saturday, Sept. 16. NC next will face the Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Golden Norsemen at 3 pm Saturday, Sept. 23 at Tiger Stadium in Corsicana.